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Fluctuating Amperes on Line Side of Thyristor Control Panel

01/07/2025 3:56 AM

Dear Gents,
We have thyristor control panel from CD Automation srl.

MULTIDRIVE-3PH Thyristor Unit 1100A – 1400A 1700A-1900A-2100A

It is operating to a fuel gas heater ( 400V, 50HZ, 700KW, 1011.6A) in zero cross mode. It is working perfect. only the problem we are noticing the current fluctuation on the feeder Micro Logic Relay 2.0E. That is the input current to the thyristor control pane. Here under is our observation:

Thyristor panel dispaly CD-KP (Ampere) : 174 178 153 143 227 346 228 and corresponding Ampere on Micrologic 2.0E are 301 270 373 159 184 429 273

On Micrologic 2.0E Amperes appears as 150 to 200% of thyristor output current

My question is why Micro logic is not showing almost same current as output current from thyristors to electrical fuel gas heater. Or Is it normal the input current of the thyristor control panel is always fluctuating and higher. Your technical assistance shall be highly appreciated.

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Guru
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#1

Re: FLUCTUATING AMPERES ON LINE SIDE OFTHYRISTOR CONTROL PANEL

01/07/2025 7:07 AM

The forum can eliminate suggestions made by the original equipment supplier over the telephone, thereby saving everyone's time, were they to be listed below, please.

<...Gents...>

Not every user here uses that description.

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#2

Re: Fluctuating Amperes on Line Side of Thyristor Control Panel

01/07/2025 9:33 AM

I feel like this is just noise generated by the high speed switching mechanism...the latency of your measurement device could be dampened perhaps to eliminate this noise but not necessary..

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Guru
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#3

Re: Fluctuating Amperes on Line Side of Thyristor Control Panel

01/07/2025 5:56 PM

When driving a purely resistive (linear) load, the current should fluctuate with the main frequency and harmonic. Utilizing three phases will significantly minimize the magnitude of the fluctuations. Thyristors are very non-linear devices. All motors (blowers) will vary their impedance with the mechanical load, thus varying the current in magnitude or phase. Spark gaps (ignitor) vary their impedance from an open to a short as arcs form and collapse.

Lastly, the sample rates, phasing, and bandwidth of the current sensing devices are probably not identical.

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Guru

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#4

Re: Fluctuating Amperes on Line Side of Thyristor Control Panel

01/07/2025 8:29 PM

My question is why Micro logic is not showing almost same current as output current from thyristors to electrical fuel gas heater.

It has to do with the way thyristors control current. A thyristor is a semiconductor device that can turn current on but can't turn it off once it is flowing.

To control current to a device, the thyristor blocks the current when the AC current reverses direction and then after a short time turns it on again. The delay time before it's turned back on controls how much current reaches the load as shown in the figure below.

Your Micro logic is sampling the current at some interval. Instead of reading the average current to the load, it reads either the AC waveform or zero, depending on when the sample occurs in relation to the switching time of the thyristor.

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Guru

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#5

Re: Fluctuating Amperes on Line Side of Thyristor Control Panel

01/08/2025 12:20 AM

In an engineered installation, the source impedance of the power supply is mathematically modeled, and anti-notching reactors are applied to smooth the effect of the thyristor firing, if necessary.

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Guru
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#6

Re: Fluctuating Amperes on Line Side of Thyristor Control Panel

01/13/2025 11:39 AM

How did the telephone calls with <...CD Automation...> go, then?

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